Welcome to Learning through Landscapes Scotland (previously known as Grounds for Learning).

Learning through Landscapes in Scotland

Our work in Scotland began at a grass roots level and in 1995 the educators and teachers involved decided that the best way to do this was to set up as the ‘Grounds for Learning’ project, with the funding and support of Scottish Natural Heritage who continue to support our work to this day.

Would you like to find out more?
Then take a look at the projects we’re currently working on, as well as the ones we’ve completed in the past.

Learning through Landscapes in Scotland

In Scotland we have delivered many ground breaking and innovative projects.

From the long term ‘Teaching in Nature’ training programme, developed by Stirling University in conjunction with SNH, through to our ‘Natural Play Project’ in partnership with the Scottish Government.

Key documents include the Good School Playground Guide and the Playtime Revolution resource.

The backbone of our Scottish work remains invites from hundreds of schools and nurseries to deliver training or advice. Our staff and LtL Accredited Network are able to deliver in all areas of Scotland – landing on Barra beach or finding a city centre school entrance is no barrier to us.

Our location on Stirling University site allows us access to fabulous greenspace for training – do drop in and say ‘hello’ to our team. As we look to the future, LtL will host the 2020 International School Grounds Association conference in Stirling, Scotland.

Join the conversation

Our connection with the Scottish educational curriculum

It is a requirement that all children in Scotland have a series of planned, progressive and quality outdoor learning experiences throughout their education journey.

The curriculum requirements are backed up by the ‘four capacities’ that our learners should develop. As ‘Successful Learners’, ‘confident individuals’, ‘effective contributors’ and ‘responsible citizens. Additionally in 2013, the requirement (alongside numeracy, literacy and health & wellbeing) for ‘Learning for Sustainability’ was placed central to the learning experience, and is seen as the responsibility of all educators, teachers and leaders. These skills and engagement with sustainability further supports the use of outdoor learning and play.

As part of the same move into Learning for Sustainability, a key report by One Planet Schools contained overarching recommendations about Learning for Sustainability, that included specific requirements for schools to support outdoor learning through leadership, good school grounds and children being allowed to engage with nature on a daily basis.

Scottish teachers have to meet the ‘General Teaching Council for Scotland – Standards for Registration’. These include demonstrating a personal commitment to ‘Learning for Sustainability, intentionally seeking outdoor learning opportunities and being supported at leadership level to do so.

Her Majesties Inspectors of Education (HMIE) have adopted an inspection model (How Good is Our School (4), 2015) that asks schools to demonstrate policy, leadership and practice in Learning for Sustainability and outdoor learning.

“Outdoor learning experiences are often remembered for a lifetime. Integrating learning and outdoor experiences, whether through play in the immediate grounds or adventures further afield, provides relevance and depth to the curriculum in ways that are difficult to achieve indoors.”

Scotland Curriculum for Excellence

Outdoor Learning Body

Our early years involvement

Our Early Years Educators and Out of School Care are inspected by the Care Inspectorate, who released a policy document called ‘My World Outdoors’ in 2015. It is now expected of all child care and early years education settings that children have access to ‘challenging play and risk outdoors’ on a daily basis. As the Scottish policy of 1140 hours of childcare annually is rolled out, the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland are looking to improve outdoor spaces and provision to allow for increased capacity in appropriate settings.

Keep in the know

If you’d like to get involved or want to stay up to date with our projects, sign up to our free newsletter today.